Last updated 12:12, Thursday, 24 July 2008

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The Love Barrow sign, hung on the side of the DDH in Barrow JOE RILEY REF: 0442245

A MASSIVE Love Barrow banner now sends out a message high above the town.
BAE Systems has paid out to erect massive 9.5m wide and 24m long Love Barrow Signs made by local firm Furness Plastics on the north and south sides of its 51m high DDH shipbuilding hall which is the Barrow's most prominent landmark.
The signs are PVC mesh strips which were made by Furness Plastics before being sent down south to a specialist firm to be welded together.
A specialist firm of steeplejacks who are expert at rope access laid the giant love sign out on the DDH roof before rolling it over the side.
Abseilers accompanied it down as it was unfurled and secured it to the DDH with metal clips.
Bob Kett, head of Furness Plastics, said: “We think the Love Barrow campaign is brilliant, Obviously from a work point of view it was work for us, but when it comes to anything that promotes Barrow we are delighted to be involved.”
His company also made the giant Love Barrow sign orders by the town hall for a building being renovated in Abbey Road next to the Duke of Edinburgh.
He said: “The response from that from the public has been absolutely incredible. Everybody you talk to likes it.”
Shipyard chief Murray Easton is backing the Love Barrow campaign after himself calling for people to talk up the town early this year.
The two giant signs on the DDH will stay up indefinitely.
Their erection has been delayed for days because of wind.
The giant signs were printed by solvent large format digital printer is sections and welded into the finished size of 24m x 9.5m with high frequency welders.
The banners are predominately printed in Pantone 5395 dark blue with white text and Pantone 182 pink.
The finished weight of each banner once it is welded and has brass eyelets inserted is 101.5kg.